Vacationing Canadians stay connected to work: poll

TORONTO (Reuters) - The majority of Canadians say they
don't disconnect from the office while on holiday, according to
a recent poll.

Fifty-seven percent of people surveyed by job-search
website Monster.ca admit to doing some work while on vacation,
through e-mail and telephone, while the rest say they
completely unplug from job-related responsibilities.

"It comes with the times of being habitually working,
Robert Waghorn, a spokesman for Monster Canada, said on Monday.

"Even if they're not taking a vacation, they're at home --
after they've had dinner and put the kids to bed -- they end up
putting in an hour, hour and a half of work to catch up. Or
they'll do a little bit on the weekend -- and certainly
technology facilitates this," Waghorn said.

"With the means of BlackBerry and now with the iPhone
coming out, people are just accustomed to it."

Of the 1,792 respondents polled in June, 23 percent said
they "occasionally check e-mails and phone messages" while on
holiday, while a further 17 percent went as far as admitting
they "never really stop working."

Another 17 percent said they make themselves "available for
emergencies only" while on vacation.

Along with the latest gadgets making it easier for
employees to stay connected to the office, Waghorn said that
demanding workplace environments, job cuts and personal
expectations also add to the pressure to stay in touch.
Continued...